I’m interested in purchasing a new Atlas gold series TM GP38-2 in BN colors. According to the Atlas archive, these BN models were made in 2016. I’ve found reviews saying this model has a Loksound Essential Sound unit decoder and others saying Loksound select. Sellers sometimes just say Loksound as if that is enough… grrr
Is there a difference in performance and/or sound quality between an “essential unit sound” and “select” decoder?
Geez, just found another ad claiming a QSI decoder in this locomotive… Would they be used by Atlas in 2016 (thought they stopped using them earlier than 2016)? Stay away or okay?
Has there been a large enough improvement in sound quality to pay more for a more recently produced locomotive with Loksound v5 and newer designed speakers?
The NYC F7s used the EMD 16[cyl]-567B. I only see a 16-cyl “567BC” offered by ESU on their sound file page. However, the description under that sound file says the following:
The EMD 567 16cyl Prime Mover was one of the most widely used Prime Movers in the world! From F-Units to Geeps this popular power house can still be found in many locomotives riding the rails today.
So, someone can correct me if I’m wrong but that should probably work for your NYC F7 - A or B-units…
The 567, 567 A block or B block upgraded to a 567 - C block primarily concerned the piping of the water (deck) passages or manifolds. Any difference in the perceived sound of the prime mover and exhaust would be negligible, IMHO.
When the 567 D2 came along it was turbocharged so there would be a distinct change in sound there. Especially the whine of the turbo.
I have to admit, though, that there were distinct differences in the sounds of, say an E7 compared to an E8 (the E7 seemed to have a sharper “bark” to its exhaust) and an FT or F3 compared to a later F7 (again, a “sharper” more staccatto exhaust in the earlier units) there were refinements to the exhaust ducting that weren’t related to the actual engine (prime mover) itself. The FTs and earlier Es had four smaller exhaust stacks rather than the combined manifold type on the later Fs and Es.